Have you ever tried to walk with someone while hugging them? It’s actually very hard to do, because you are trying to side-hug but also be step-by-step.
Today as I walked my kids to school I hugged my son and we walked together…and in the middle of it, I realized that it took his little legs two steps to match my bigger stride of one-step. He had to do double the work to keep up with just one of my steps!
I actually think that walking with God is the opposite of this. He does all the work…the two steps…and we only have to take one step — obedience.
It’s God that does all the working and processing and changing of hearts behind the scenes, but He does want us to be in-step with Him as we go. There is a famous saying out there, “let go, and let God”…and I understand the sentiment here, but I think the Christian walk is a little more like “walk in obedience, and let God work”. There is a two-way partnership going on. This walk of faith involves both parties.
There are so many beautiful images throughout the Bible of what it means to walk with God. Would you allow me to take you through a few of them?
Psalm 1 tells us we are a “like a tree planted by streams of water” that brings forth fruit in its season. Our walk with God is compared to a tree that has roots running deep. Our nourishment comes from those deep roots, roots that draw water from the stream — God, our source.
In John 15 God is called “the vine” and we are “the branches”. There is a strong, ultimate source of authority and power (the vine)…yet our connectedness to Him as the branches causes us to bear fruit. The tethering is what brings life to our soul.
We just visited John 6 where Jesus calls Himself the “bread of life”, and in this analogy, we depend on Him for sustenance, like food. We need the nourishment to not only live and survive, but to feast and abound and do great works for Him. Our walk with God involves regular feasting on our Savior.
With the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus says that He has “living water”. Again, water is needed to live. Without water, we wouldn’t survive. Regular water sustains us, but the water Jesus talks about produces in us a constant contentment that means we will never be thirsty again. Walking with Him means drinking of this water.
A tree, a branch, the bread, and living water….all of these things point to a very specific theme I believe God wants to convey: apart from Him, we can do nothing.
He is our sustenance. He is Giver of life and Sustainer of life. Our walk means we are tethered to Him. In each of these analogies, if one was separated from the other, it would be a complete fracture, or breaking of life. A tree needs water, a branch needs the vine, humans need bread and water to live. All of this is part of God’s design. A close walk with Him means we will not only survive, but we will thrive.
When I walk through large crowds with my kids, I always ask them to stay close and hold my hand. I don’t do this to annoy them, but I do this out of pure protection…complete care for their safety.
That’s why God wants you to stay close to Him. He knows that if you are near Him, that is the safest place in the world to be. He knows that you will grow there, that you will experience breakthrough there, that you will find healing in His embrace.
Do we walk close beside Him, or do we fight against His loving embrace? Would you take time this week to sit with this idea, dear friend?
Ask yourself this: Do I let Him draw me near? Or do I try to go my own way?
Let Him show you what is in your heart.
Today as I walked my kids to school I hugged my son and we walked together…and in the middle of it, I realized that it took his little legs two steps to match my bigger stride of one-step. He had to do double the work to keep up with just one of my steps!
I actually think that walking with God is the opposite of this. He does all the work…the two steps…and we only have to take one step — obedience.
It’s God that does all the working and processing and changing of hearts behind the scenes, but He does want us to be in-step with Him as we go. There is a famous saying out there, “let go, and let God”…and I understand the sentiment here, but I think the Christian walk is a little more like “walk in obedience, and let God work”. There is a two-way partnership going on. This walk of faith involves both parties.
There are so many beautiful images throughout the Bible of what it means to walk with God. Would you allow me to take you through a few of them?
Psalm 1 tells us we are a “like a tree planted by streams of water” that brings forth fruit in its season. Our walk with God is compared to a tree that has roots running deep. Our nourishment comes from those deep roots, roots that draw water from the stream — God, our source.
In John 15 God is called “the vine” and we are “the branches”. There is a strong, ultimate source of authority and power (the vine)…yet our connectedness to Him as the branches causes us to bear fruit. The tethering is what brings life to our soul.
We just visited John 6 where Jesus calls Himself the “bread of life”, and in this analogy, we depend on Him for sustenance, like food. We need the nourishment to not only live and survive, but to feast and abound and do great works for Him. Our walk with God involves regular feasting on our Savior.
With the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus says that He has “living water”. Again, water is needed to live. Without water, we wouldn’t survive. Regular water sustains us, but the water Jesus talks about produces in us a constant contentment that means we will never be thirsty again. Walking with Him means drinking of this water.
A tree, a branch, the bread, and living water….all of these things point to a very specific theme I believe God wants to convey: apart from Him, we can do nothing.
He is our sustenance. He is Giver of life and Sustainer of life. Our walk means we are tethered to Him. In each of these analogies, if one was separated from the other, it would be a complete fracture, or breaking of life. A tree needs water, a branch needs the vine, humans need bread and water to live. All of this is part of God’s design. A close walk with Him means we will not only survive, but we will thrive.
When I walk through large crowds with my kids, I always ask them to stay close and hold my hand. I don’t do this to annoy them, but I do this out of pure protection…complete care for their safety.
That’s why God wants you to stay close to Him. He knows that if you are near Him, that is the safest place in the world to be. He knows that you will grow there, that you will experience breakthrough there, that you will find healing in His embrace.
Do we walk close beside Him, or do we fight against His loving embrace? Would you take time this week to sit with this idea, dear friend?
Ask yourself this: Do I let Him draw me near? Or do I try to go my own way?
Let Him show you what is in your heart.
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.